Garter.



N0. 844,286. PATENTBD FEB. 12, 1907.

J. F. OBRIEN.

GARTER.

'urmoumn rum) FEB. 2a. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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JOHN F. OBRIEN, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GARTER.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garters, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garters or hosesupporters, the object of the invention being to provide an article of the class referred to which may be used for various purposes, being adapted to the needs of men, women, and children, and especially adapted to the needs of sportsmen, athletes, and others, the garter as a whole being adapted to be used in connection with long stockings and socks and to support the same either from the knees or waist.

With the above general object in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garter embodying the present invention shown adapted for use as a sock-supporter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stocking grip or clasp. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, showing my invention in use as a waist-garter.

The garter comprises, essentially, an elastic strap or band 1, provided at an intermediate point with a take-up or buckle 2 of ordinary construction and associated with the plies or thicknesses of the strap 1 in such manner that the strap may be lengthened or shortened, according to necessity.

In connection with the elastic band" or strap 1 a pair of clips 3 are employed, the same being provided at one end with parallel slots 4. and an intervening bar 5, the end por- 1 tions of the band or strap 1 being passed through the slots 4 and around the bar 5, which serves as a holding-bar for the end portions of the strap or band, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. At the opposite end each clip is provided with a hook 6 to receive a cord 7, which, if desired, may be elastic. The extremities of the cord 7 are connected to a stocking grip or clasp 8, comprising two jaws 9 and 10, the jaw 9 being wider than the jaw 10 and being provided with an aperture 11, through which the shank portion of the jaw 10 passes, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The two jaws thus intersect or cross each other, and the extremities thereof are bent inward in opposite directions and provided with teeth 12, which are shown as overlapping each other, so as to obtain a firm grip on the object to be supported. At its upper or inner end the jaw 1.0 is provided with oppositely-extending tabs 13, which are bent inward toward each other upon the extremities of the cord 7, so as to securely anchor said cord to the grip or clasp. The shank portions 9 and 10 are firmly connected together by one or more rivets 14 or their equivalent. If desired, one of the hooks 6 may be clenched upon the cord 7, so as to permanently anchor said cord to the clip and prevent loss thereof. Each of the clips is further provided with a cruciform buttonhole 15, the inner branch of which is elongated and enlarged in somewhat elliptical form, as shown at 16, so that it may be passed over a button adjacent to the waist-line of a garment. The cross portion of the cruciform buttonhole is of proper size, width, and length to receive and engage the hook 6 at the opposite end of'the band or strap 1. If desired, the buttonhole may be varied in shape.

To use the device as a waist-garter, it is stretched out at full length, and the clasp 8 is secured to the top of the stocking, while one of the clips 3 is fastened to a button on the waistband of the trousers, as shown in Fig. 3. For sportsmen and athletes the garter ispassed around the leg below the knee and fastened by slipping the hook of one of the clips into the slot or buttonhole of the other clip, after which the top of the stocking is drawn down over the garter. In this case the cord 7, with its grip or clasp 8, may be entirely removed, if desired. For short stockings or socks the grip or clasp is connected to the top of the stocking or sock, and the garter is passed around the leg below the knee, and the elastic cord 7 is passed through both of the hooks 6. For some uses the grip or clasp 8 may be attached directly to one of for the purpose described, and a stocking IO the clips 3 without the interposition of the grip or clasp provided with a cord or loop to cord 7. engage one or both of the hooks of the clip. I claim In testimony whereof I afiix my signature A garter comprising a strap or band, terin presence of two witnesses.

minal clips secured to said band and each JOHN F. OBRIEN.

provided with a hook, the body portions of Witnesses:

said clips each provided with a buttonhole JOHN G. SOHR EDER,

therein which terminates in a transverse slot A. R. T. WINJUM. 

